They did seem to leave rather suddenly, almost as an after thought. I remember the family discussing Phil being out of town on business, after RM departed the role of Phil, but I don't recall him having a goodbye scene on camera.
There definitely was an episode with Nancy and Louise standing inside the Karrs' house, beside the front door, in which Mary K. Wells appeared. Louise was there to say her goodbyes, since she was heading out of town. It was very brief. I remember thinking, "That's...it? A branch of an original family tree is just being written out with so little fanfare? We don't even get one final scene with Louise, Winston and Mattie?"
At least we got an explanation as to where the Capices went. I hate when major characters on soaps simply cease to exist, and go unmentioned for years without explanation (Tommy Horton, Carl Williams, Jessie Brewer, Jim Craig, Ellen Stewart, etc.)
RM left TEON for AMC in 1969, as the actor later acknowledged in interviews. His contract was up and AMC made him a good offer.
Yes, characters adopted children and took in foster kids, but there were fewer pregnancies than on many other shows. I've often speculated that the lack of regular pregnancy-related stories was due to TEON's crime format.
By
vetsoapfan ·
